What It's Like To Move From A Small Town To A City | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

What It's Like To Move From A Small Town To A City

No really, I love the city.

652
What It's Like To Move From A Small Town To A City
Elise Hoffman

I have spent all of my life growing up in a small town. I didn't live in a very rural area, but not really an urban area either. For those of you who don't know what a small town is like there were no strict bans on dancing or high school students who break out in song every five minutes.

It's actually very boring.

There was never anything to do. In my town, there was an old roller skating rink that hasn't changed since the fifties, an overpriced movie theater, and Walmart. Yeah, not that exciting. I don't even know what I did with my time before I moved to the city. It was suffocating to sit around and try to entertain ourselves. On one hand it sounds really cool that I taught myself guitar and learned how to sew and knit and bake on a regular basis, but this is all because there is nothing else to do.

Now to the good stuff, the transition into college. I recently finished up my first year away from that small town. I'm living in Pittsburgh, which I absolutely love! In fact, I've decided to stay the summer here and pick up some extra credits at college. There are some things that I didn't really think would be a big change for me, but ended up making a huge difference. I never thought I would really factor in traffic until I drove.

Just walking in the city requires a lot of calculations. How fast do I walk? How long is the cross sign on? Let alone trying to figure out the bus schedules. If could take you ten minutes to get to where you are going, but then the next day it takes ten minutes just to wait for the bus. You never know if the buses are going to be late. You have to remember which bus goes where and hope that it isn't crowded or face the horrors of people who don't wear deodorant.

Safety in my hometown was never a big issue, mostly because I never left the house. There was nowhere to go. Moving to the city, I found myself outside all the time. Living in a dorm sounds like fun until you realize your starving and its ten at night. Then there's the whole ordeal of finding the Chinese place that is open late and deciding if you really want to spend twenty dollars to have them deliver or just go yourself. I guarantee that when you go by yourself, there will be way more people than you expect lurking around. Pro tip: bring pepper spray. I haven't ever had to use it, but it gives me a bit of piece of mind.

I suppose you think that it sounds like I don't really like the city that much, but it's quite the contrary. The city just requires a different way of living. Instead of sitting safely at home watching TV until your eyes fall out you are running all over the place, dodging pigeons and actually doing stuff. It's great! Even though Pittsburgh isn't a big city, there is still a lot to do. Worst case scenario, I hop on a bus and see where it takes me. It's nice to get out of my hometown and see other cultures and peoples. The city gives me freedom to do whatever it is that I like.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Adulting

18 Things I Want To Do Now That I'm 18

I'm technically an adult, so I'm legally required to live a little, right?

2524
Happy Birthday Cake

For the entirety of my high school career, I was always seen as the goody-two-shoes. I never got in trouble with a teacher, I kept stellar grades, and when I wasn't doing extracurricular activities, I was at home studying. Even when I did go out, it was usually with a bunch of fellow band geeks. The night would end before 11:00 PM and the only controversial activity would be a fight based on who unfairly won a round of Apples-to-Apples when someone else clearly had a better card (I promise I'm not still holding a grudge).

Now that I'm officially an adult, I want to pursue some new things. I want to experience life in a way that I never allowed myself to do prior to entering college. These are the years that I'm supposed to embark on a journey of self-discovery, so what better way to do that than to create a bucket list?

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics

The holiday classics that shaped my life

1515
10 Life Lessons from Christmas Classics
Flickr

The holiday season is full of stress, debt, and forced conversation. While we rush through the month of December, it's important to take a step back and enjoy the moments before they're gone. Most families love to watch Christmas movies, but these beloved films provide more than entertainment. Here are 10 life lessons that I've learned from the holiday classics we watch every year.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

200758
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

21253
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments